Socialism Flashcards
What is worker control?
The importance and extent of control over the economy.
How do democratic socialists advocate workers’ control?
More equitable distribution of economic resources.
Abolishment of class distinctions.
What is democratic socialism built upon, contrastingly to revolutionary socialism?
The parliamentary route is the more effective route towards true socialism.
How do Marxists analyse society?
Society is embedded with an understanding of social class.
Class struggle, class consciousness.
What is class struggle?
The inherent struggle between capital and labour.
What did Marx argue all societies were based upon?
Class conflict.
What examples did Marx give for class conflict being the basis of society?
Transition from feudalism to capitalism.
Landed aristocracy battling between aspirational middle class.
What is class consciousness?
The proletariat becomes aware of their exploitation at the hands of the bourgeoisie.
What can the combination of class struggle and class consciousness lead to?
A potentially revolutionary working class.
The replacement of capitalism with a system run for the benefit of workers.
Why has Marx’s analysis of social class seen much scrutiny?
Criticism due to the perception of social class arising due to the means of production.
New socialists, such as Anthony Crosland have argued that society is far more complex than what it was under Marx.
What can the concept of class struggle and consciousness boil down to?
The fact it is intellectually bankrupt.
Workers’ Control is no longer necessary to achieve socialistic goals as means of production are no longer owned by monopoly men with monocles but a new salaried working class.
What are the core values of (extreme?)
socialism?
Equality of outcome is more important than individual liberty.
Need for an extensive welfare state.
State ownership of production.
Strong emphasis on collective working class organisations (trade unions).
Redistributive wealth.
Abolishment of class system.
Abolishment of institutions decided by class, birth or privilege.
Why did Socialism rise in Europe?
A reaction against social and economic conditions generated in
Europe by individual capitalism.
What is capitalism?
An economic system in which wealth is owned by private individuals and goods are produced for monetary exchange according to the dictates of the market.
What types of people generally followed
Socialism?
Industrial Revolution working class.
